UON Key Risk Area: KRA 3.6
Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation
1.
Purpose
To provide guidance on the procedures that must be implemented to protect staff,
students, conjoints and contractors working on or in the vicinity of electricity.
2.
Scope
This document applies to all Faculties, Divisions, and organisational units of the
University of Newcastle and its controlled entities.
3.
Definitions
In the context of this document, the following definitions apply:
•
Electrical Equipment: Any equipment that is energised by electricity.
•
Portable Equipment: Equipment which is moved in operation, or an appliance
which can be easily moved from one place to another while connected to an
electrical supply.
•
Extra Low Voltage: Voltage that does not exceed 50V alternating current (AC).
•
Low Voltage: Exceeding extra-low voltage, but not exceeding 1000V AC.
•
Residual Current Device (RCDs): An electrical wiring device that disconnects an
electrical circuit whenever it detects that the electrical current is not balanced
between the energised conductor and the return conductor.
•
Energy Isolation: The separation of equipment or circuits from energy sources.
•
Competent Person: A person who has, through a combination of training, education
and experience, knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a
specified task.
•
Leaders/Supervisors: Any member of the University who is responsible for
supervising staff and/or undergraduate or postgraduate students and/or for leading
research projects.
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•
Workers: As defined in the NSW Work Health & Safety Act 2011, workers include
employees, conjoints, students on work experience, contractors, sub-contractors and
their employees. Staff, conjoints, students on work experience, and contractors may be
referred to collectively as workers, or separately as staff, conjoints, students, or
contractors.
4.
Responsibilities
4.1 Infrastructure and Facilities Services (IFS)
•
Ensure that all new plant and equipment will be purchased / supplied with facilities to
accommodate a positive locking device. Where possible, (e.g. during upgrade works or
following a risk assessment), existing installations will be upgraded to accommodate a
positive locking device;
•
Ensure electrical work is conducted in accordance with this procedure;
•
Ensure that contractors who are required to undertake electrical work have the
appropriate procedures, equipment and competent personnel to undertake the work;
•
Ensure that when portable tools are to be used by contractors that RCDs are available
to protect the electrical circuit;
•
Ensure that portable electrical equipment used by contractors has been tested and
tagged (see UON KRA 3.9 Electrical Testing and Tagging);
•
Ensure that where contractors are required to work on energised equipment energy
isolation procedures are followed;
•
Provide information to affected locations where electrical work is to be conducted to
ensure the necessary actions are taken to protect staff and students who work in the
area.
4.2 Leaders/Supervisors
•
Ensure that risk controls are followed when they are implemented to protect staff and
students when electrical work is to be conducted.
4.4 Health and Safety Team
•
Provide professional input regarding electrical activities when required.
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5.
Procedure
5.1 Risk Assessment
•
Prior to installation of any new electrical equipment a risk assessment will be conducted
and any manufacturers, suppliers or contractors involved in the installation will be
assessed prior to work commencing for their ability to comply with the safety
requirements for the work and the requirements of the NSW Work Health and Safety
Regulations 2011.
•
Prior to any task commencing that involves work on electrical plant and equipment, the
contractors involved with the work will assess the risks associated with the task and
identify the appropriate risk controls which will then be incorporated into a Safe Work
Method Statement (SWMS) or Job Safety Analysis (JSA). The contractor and all the
workers involved with the task will sign off on the SWMS or JSA.
•
Risk assessments will consider isolation of all energy sources that could potentially
impact the contractor’s workers undertaking the task not just the immediate equipment
being worked on, for example other equipment operating in the vicinity.
5.2 General Requirements for Electrical Work
IFS will oversee these general requirements which will apply to managing electrical
equipment safely:
•
All electrical equipment maintenance and installation will only be undertaken by
competent contractors and their workers;
•
Each exposed part of electrical equipment is to be treated as if it is energised until it is
isolated and it is proven not to be energised i.e. TEST before touch;
•
Electrical switchboards and all isolators for de-energising electrical circuits and other
energy sources will be labelled;
•
All enclosures housing electrical equipment such as substations and switchboards will
be fitted with locks and signs to prevent access by unauthorised persons;
•
Only competent and authorised personnel will be permitted to access electrical
installations such as substations and switchboards;
•
Wherever possible the space around electrical installations and circuits will have
sufficient clearance for safe working conditions;
•
Sufficient light will be installed in the vicinity of electrical installations and circuits to be
able to see clearly all labels and markings;
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•
IFS will have a plan for the maintenance of electrical equipment and installations which
will be compliant with manufacturer’s instructions.
5.3 Residual Current Devices (RCDs)
•
All mains powered portable equipment, operating at above extra low voltage, will be
protected by an RCD;
•
It is preferred that RCD’s be part of a fixed installation, e.g. mounted within a
switchboard, or integral to a switched socket outlet;
•
Where this is not practical with existing installations then portable equipment will be
connected to the electrical supply via an approved portable RCD unit;
•
Portable RCD’s will be registered, tested and tagged as with other portable equipment
(see UON KRA 3.9 Electrical Testing and Tagging);
•
The recommended minimum test frequency for portable and permanently installed
RCD’s is listed in the table below.
Type of Test
Portable
Fixed
Push button test, and visual
Daily, or before each use,
Twelve Monthly
inspection
whichever is the longer
Calibration check
Twelve Monthly
5.4 Flexible Extension Cords
The following risk controls for safe use of flexible extension cords will be implemented:
•
Protected from accidental damage, e.g. pedestrians, vehicles, doorways, other pinch
points such as being run through walls, ceilings or floors;
•
Never used as a substitute for fixed wiring of a structure;
•
Only used in continuous lengths without splicing or joining;
•
Be visually inspected prior to use and be maintained in good working order;
•
A portable RCD must be fitted to a portable extension cord or power tool where there is
not a fixed RCD fitted at the relevant power outlet.
5.5 Live Work
From time to time a competent electrician is called upon to undertake activities which include
working on or near live exposed low voltage electrical equipment. Live work includes:
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•
Working within 500mm of live exposed electrical conductors;
•
Fault finding or testing on live electrical equipment e.g. the process of fault finding on
energised equipment, but not working on the live equipment;
•
Working on live electrical equipment e.g. replacement of a main circuit board on an
energised 415 volt distribution board;
Working on live electrical equipment is a known high risk activity, exposing the person to
possible severe burns and / or shock and such work should only be undertaken after other
options have been considered and only in accordance with the SWMS or JSAs that have
been developed by the contractor and the workers in consultation with IFS or the nominated
responsible person. Specific procedures will include:
•
Conducting a risk assessment to identify whether there is an alternative way of doing the
work;
•
Working under a Permit to Work issued by IFS or the nominated representative;
•
Working with a stand-by person who has been trained in live rescue and CPR;
•
Use of insulated tools;
•
Provision of appropriate equipment to protect against arc flash or accidental contact with
live equipment e.g. cotton clothing; non-conductive footwear, face shields; insulated
gloves; non-conductive safety mats.
5.6 Electrical Arc Protection
While working near live electrical equipment for testing and fault finding, a fault current of up
to 20 times the rated current of the supply transformer can flow for short times during fault
conditions.
Arcs that are produced under these conditions have the energy to cause an explosion and/or
melt metallic switchboard cabinets. Arcs may cause severe burns to the skin and/or burns to
the face and eyes. Inhaled hot gasses and molten particles can cause serious internal burns
to the throat and lungs. Injury can also occur through the impact from flying debris and
dislodged components. Over current circuit protection (e.g. RCDs) may not operate in such
circumstances.
The safest way to address maintenance and repair situations with electrical equipment is to
work only when equipment is de-energised using energy isolation procedures (see Section
5.7). When energy isolation has occurred, no electrical energy is present, no arc flash
hazard exists, and no arc flash precautions are necessary.
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When working on or near de-energised electrical equipment is not possible (see Section 5.5)
arc flash protection will be provided to protect contractors who are working on or near the
live electrical equipment. Arc flash protection equipment includes the following:
•
For low voltage work (i.e. 415V AC) insulated tools will be used;
•
Personal protective equipment (PPE) compliant with Australian Standards which may
include:
‒
Safety hat with face shield;
‒
Anti-flash safety glasses/face shield;
‒
Insulating gloves;
‒
Safety boots;
‒
Insulated sheeting;
‒
Fire resistant clothing e.g. pants, shirts, overalls.
5.7 Excavation and Ground Penetrations
Excavations and digging can include trenches and ground penetration such as drilling and
digging drainage channels. Therefore it is essential that before work commences, up to date
services diagrams will be consulted to identify the existence and location of underground
electrical cables. See UON KRA 3.4 Excavation and Demolition for the procedures to be
followed when excavations and ground penetration is to occur.
5.8 Energy Isolation
Energy sources will be isolated whenever workers are required to work in and around
energised equipment regardless of the source of energy. The following requirements apply
and will be overseen by IFS or the nominated representative:
•
Isolation will always be undertaken at the energy source and will not rely on control
circuitry such as stop switches, interlocks, emergency stops or lanyards;
•
Positive isolation will be used i.e. the energy source has been isolated, tested and the
isolation is proved to have worked;
•
Wherever practicable, isolation will be secured by the use of a personal locking device
which requires a key for removal;
•
The equipment will also be tagged at the control panel to indicate it is isolated;
•
Prior to work commencing the equipment will be tested to verify it has been isolated;
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•
If a personal locking device cannot be used, a personal danger tag will be used instead
by each worker involved with the job. The danger tag indicates that the person identified
on the tag is involved in the work related to the item of equipment and is at risk of
personal harm if the equipment is re-energised while the danger tag is in place;
•
A personal danger tag will only be removed from the isolation point by the person
identified on the tag who placed it on the isolator;
•
De-isolation and re-energising of equipment will only occur when all personal locks or
danger tags have been removed;
•
If for any reason the person identified on a personal danger tag is not available to
remove it when the work is completed, it will only be removed by an authorised person
at the site after following these actions:
‒
Inspecting the area;
‒
Making personal contact with the tag owner, in person or by phone; or
‒
Seeking reliable information from a third party that the person has left the area.
5.9 Out of Service Tags
An out of service tag is used to indicate an item of equipment is defective and that the
equipment will not be used until cleared for safe operation by an authorised and competent
person. The following requirements apply to out of service tags:
•
An out of service tag will be placed on all defective equipment as soon as the defect has
been recognised;
•
The item of equipment will not be used while the out of service tag is in place. The tag
will remain in place at all times while the equipment is isolated, defective or being
worked on;
•
The tag will indicate the date and time that it has been applied and the name of the
person who placed the tag;
•
An out of service tag will only be removed by a competent person once the defect has
been corrected.
5.10 Electric Shock
Whenever electrical work is to be conducted procedures will be in place so that immediate
action can be taken if a worker sustains an electric shock during the course of their work.
The following actions will be taken:
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•
A sufficient number of first aiders will be available whose training includes CPR and pole
rescue;
•
All workers who have sustained an electric shock will be taken for immediate medical
assessment and monitoring to ensure there have been no cardiac or other
complications;
•
Electrical events will be reported by the contractor to IFS or the nominated
representative who will enter the incident into the UON online Incident Management
System (IMS). UON will ensure that the contractor reports the incident to the NSW
WorkCover Authority;
•
6.
An investigation will be conducted following all electrical incidents.
References
NSW Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.
NSW WorkCover Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice
UON H&S Framework
UON HSP 4.1 H&S Risk Management
IFS Permit to Work Procedure
7.
Attachments
Nil
UON KRA 3.6 Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation
Uncontrolled when printed
Version 1: Issued 30/9/15
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Document Control Table
Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation – KRA 3.6
Date of first edition:
30/9/15
Date this review
N/A
will take effect:
RM Folder Ref:
<completion
Document
by policy
Number:
Date of next
30/9/18
Review:
KRA 3.6 V1
Revision
N/A
Number:
team>
Approved by:
Director, People and Workforce Strategy
Owner:
Associate Director, Health and Safety
Contact:
University of Newcastle Health and Safety Team
Governing
NSW Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations 2011,
Legislation:
Supporting
documents & forms
of this
UON H&S Management System Framework
UON HSP 4.1 H&S Risk Management
procedure/guideline:
IFS Permit to Work Procedure
Keywords:
Health and Safety; H&S; electricity; energy sources; energy isolation;
lockout devices; danger tags; out of service tags; RCDs
Important Notes:
Revision History /
Version Control
1st version of this document
N/A
UON KRA 3.6 Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation
Uncontrolled when printed
Version 1: Issued 30/9/15
Page 9 of 9